Spraying device



March 20, 1951 Filed March 29, 1946 E. O. NORRIS 2 Sheets-Sheet 1 I -/7 l 25 i 7' 8W5 T a 24 223 27 m 5 L 4 4 INVENTOR. 5 4 EDWARD ONORR/S 11 2 BY 45 sucm/v 4/ flay PIPE March 20, 1951 o, NORRls 2,545,490

SPRAYING DEVICE Filed March 29, 1946' 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 Patented Mar. 20, 195i UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE 4 Claims.

This invention relates generally to spraying apparatus of the centrifugal type wherein a liquid is fed by suitable means to an atomizing distributor, rotating at high speed, which receives, atomizes, and projects the liquid in a finely divided spray, through a suitable opening in the apparatus, against the surface to be sprayed. s r

The apparatus disclosed in this application is a modification of the spraying device shown and described in my prior Patents Nos. 2,064,125 and 2,086,987, issued December 15, 1936, and July 13, 1937, respectively. This application is directed to the specific construction of the mechanism for supplying the liquid to the rotating atomizing distributor, the general object of the invention being to render the spraying devices disclosed in'the aforesaid patents more flexible and to enable the liquid to be supplied thereto from a large receptacle located at a point remote from the apparatus.

Another object of the invention is to provide a portable spraying device which is simple, compact, light and eflicient in operation and which is especially adapted for use by relatively unskilled operators.

Another object of the. invention is to provide in a device of this character improved means,

utilizing vacuum, for supplying the liquid to the atomizing distributor from a remote source.

Other and more limited objects of the invention will be apparent from the following specification and the accompanying drawings forming apart thereof wherein:

Fig. 1 is a partial. central vertical section through a portable spraying device constructed in accordance with my invention;

Fig. 2 is a front elevation thereof;

Fig. 3 is a horizontal section taken on the line 3-4 of Fig. 1;

Fig. 4 is a horizontal section taken on the line '4-4 of Fig. 1; and V Fig. 5 is an enlarged detail sectional view through the valve mechanism which controls the supply of liquid to the distributor.

My improved spraying device comprises generally an atomizing distributor which atomizes and ejects a band of spray out through a suitable opening in a case enclosing the distributor. The distributor is rotated by a high speed series type motor and is mounted in the upper end of a suitable case. The lower end of the case constitutes a reservoir into which the liquid is fed by pressure from any suitable source of supply. From this reservoir the liquid is fed by run vacuum means to the distributor which atomizes it and ejects a ring or band of atomized spray outwardly from the periphery thereof. Part of this band of atomized spray is projected out through an opening in the case and the balance thereof is intercepted by the case and drains back into the reservoir. The suction feed by which the liquid is fed from the reservoir to the distributor is so constructed and arranged that the feed is operative when the device is held in various positions suited to project a spray at any angle between horizontally outward and vertically upward. Suitable valve means are provided for controlling the supply of liquid to the reservoir and to the distributor. A float valve operates in conjunction with the" control valve to restrict the flow of liquid into the reservoir when the liquid approaches a predetermined level therein.

Referring now to the drawings by reference characters the numeral l indicates generally a casing which is divided into upper and lower chambers 2 and 3, respectively, by a spider 4. A motor case 5 of a high speed series type motor having an armature shaft 6 is secured to the top I of the casing I. The armature shaft 6 extends down through an aperture in the top I of the casing l into the upper chamber 2 and is screwed into the hub 8 of an atomizing distributor, generally indicated by the numeral 9.

The distributor 9 is disposed within the cham her 2 between the top wall I of the casing l and the spider 4 which divides the casing I into upper and lower chambers 2 and 3.

The lower chamber 3 serves as areservoir for the'liquid which is fed under pressure from any suitable source of supply through a flexible hose l0, valve body ll, and tube l2 into the chamber 3. The tube l2, which is suitably fastened to the casing I, extends upwardly from the valve body H along the outside of the casing to the top wall 1 thereof where it is doubled back upon itself and extends down into the chamber 3 along the inner surface of the casing I for a predetermined distance. The flow of liquid from the source of supply into the chamber 3 is con- .trolled when the device is upright as in Fig. 1

by a ball valve 53 within the valve body II. A valve it which is disposed within the tube l2 adjacent the open end thereof is controlled by a float I5 which is connected thereto by an arm Hi. When the liquid within the chamber 3 approaches a predetermined level the float will close the valve l4 and restrict the flow of liquid into the chamber 3, even though the valve i3 is open.

The valve I4 is provided to keep the chamber 3 from being flooded in the event liquid is being supplied thereto faster than it is being withdrawn therefrom.

From the chamber 3 the liquid is fed by means hereinafter described to the distributor 9, which atomizes and sprays a band of atomized spray outwardly in all directions from the periphery thereof. ,A portion. of this band v of atomized spray is projected out through an opening I! in the wall of the chamber 2 and the balance thereof is intercepted by the walls of the chamber and drains back through openings [8 in the spider l into the chamber 3. The circumferential width of the band of spray projected out through the opening H is obviously dependent upon the 011f;- cumferential extent of this opening. A :gate |'9 by which the extent oi the opening It may be varied to increase or decrease the width of the .band .of. spray projected therethroughis ,slidably mounted within the chamber 2 in operativerelationto. the opening H. An operating handle 20, by which the gate I9 is moved to vary the extent of the opening I], is secured to .the gate l9 and .extends downwardly therefrom along the outer surfaceof thecasingl. I -Thedistributor 9 includes upper and lower circular plates 2| and 2.2 which are disposed in spaced relation to eachotherv A plurality of superimposed ring-shaped discs 23.are mounted "between the plates 2| and 2'2, the plates 2| .and 22- and the discs 23 being all securedtogether in proper relation to eachother-bystuds 24 and spacers 25.- The upper plate2| is formed integrally with the hub 8 which extends downwardly therefrom towards the lowerplate 22. The lower plate '22 is formed with acentrally disposed downwardly extending frusto-conical chamber 26 which is-closed-at its upper larger end by a flexible disc 21 secured to the lower "end 'of-the hub 8. The disc -2'|-*whi ch may be made of leather impregnated cloth, or'fany other'suitable flexible material, acts "as a valve, as'i's hereinafter apparent, which allows liquid to be thrown upwardly and outwardly from the chamber 26, but prevents air being drawn back into the chamber 26. An annular'rin'g oi pyramidally-shaped teeth 28 are fform'e'd integrally with the lower plate 22 around the upper end of the chamber zeand extend upwardly from the plate 22 withinthering shaped dises'23 and terminates slightly abovethe'uppersurface of the uppermost disc 23.

"A tube 29 which isclo se'd; at its 'lower end and open at its upper end extends upwardly from the bottom-oi the chamber. 3 throughthe spider 4 and into the frusto-conical chamber '26. The tube 29 is held rigidly in position by the spider 4an'd it has two openings '30 and 3| throughfthe wall thereof, the opening 30 being near the bottom thereof and the opening 3| being near the upper end thereof. An open-ended tube 32 communicates'with the opening 3| inthe tube 29'and extends outwardly and upwardly therefrom, terminating at apoint near the inner wall of the chamber 2, slightly below the top wall 1 thereof. A tube 33 closed at its lower end and open at'its upper end is rotatably'rnounted within the tube 29. The tube 33, the outside diameter of which is approximately equal to the'inside diameter of the tube 29, extends from the bottom to the top of the tube 29 and has twoop'enings 34 and 35 through the wall thereof. The'openings' 34 and 35 are offset about 90.with respect to each other and are adapted to register with the openings 30 and 3| respectively. Due to their ofiset relation, the opening 34 will be moved out of register with the opening 36 as the tube 33 is rotated to bring the opening 35 into register with the opening 3|, and vice versa. A tube 36, the outside diameter of which is considerably smaller than the inside diameter of the tube 33, extends up through the tube 33 axially thereof so as to provide a passageway between. the inner wall of the tube 33 and the outer wall of the tube 36'. The tube 36, which is open at its upper end, extends up beyond the upper ends of the tubes 29 and 33 into a recess 31 in the armature shaft 6 and distributor hub 8, which recess is open at its lower end to-the chamber 26. The lower end of the tube35 extends, out through the closed ends of thetubes 2 9 and 33. The tube 38 is fixed to the bottom wall of the tube 33 and is rotatable in the bottom wall of the ehamber 3. The tube 36 terminates in a valve casing 38; havi port 39 which vents the tubeSS tothe atmospher A ball valve 40 withinthe casing 33 is arrang d close. the port 319 when the ..apparatus is spr ing and to open the, port 39,when sprayingis.- continued. The interior of the tube 36 is ,c nnected, above the valvecasing 38,to any suitable source of suction by a flexible hose 4|. i i lev'e r 42. se'curedgto the tube. 36 exteriorly of the ca rig is provided to. rotate. thetubesjt andtji to bring the openingsjd and 35 into or out of reg; ister with the'openin'gs 30 and 3| as desired, The device .is designed to operate or spray at any angle between horizontally outward. a d, yer: tically upward. ..Wh,e'n spraying, horizontally or at any angle between ,the horizontal and ap;- proximately 45." upwardly, the openings Biland 3A are brought into register by turning thetubejj by the lever 42. Atgreater angles between the horizontal and the V'elt'iCal the openings 3| and 35 are brought into register which moves the openings 33 and 34 out of register with each other. 4 o

The new of liquid from the sourceofisu'pply into the chamber 3 and from the chamber ;3 to the distributor 9 is controlled and regulated by a lever 43 pivoted at 44 to a bracket 45"secured to the lower end of the casing I. The lowerventl of the lever 43 is bifurcated'asindicatedat .45 and straddles the projecting endfof 'a..r'iod $41 which isslidably mounted .in the valve body II. The ends 'of the rod 4'!- have heads T48Iand 4,9 thereon, A spring 50 Withinthe lvalve bodyJl bearing against the head 48 normally holds the ball valve 1 3 in position to iclose apassagewa'y. 5|

through which liquid fiOWs from the flexible 'ho's'e |0into the tube |2.- o W. ."i

The ball valve 40 is s'eciiredto'theuppe'r end of a stem52 which" extends out;from thevalvei'casing 38 through the port 33 and is secured at its lower end to "aspring arm 5'3J5e'curdto thel'e'ver |3 When the lever 43 is released .as in'Fi'gs. .'."1 and 5 the spring iarm .53 holds the ballfval-ve 40 away-from the port39fso that the 'tubei36jis vented to the atmosphere. he .b'all .valvefifl closes the port 39 when the'lever 43 is actuated for spraying.

Operation In operation tne oper'a'tor holds and manipulates thedevice by 'thereduced lower 'end of "the casing I. Assuming "that the device is "to be operated at some "angle between the horizontatand an angle of 45fu war'd1y, 'the o'penings 30 ass 34 are brought'in'to register. The "upper "end o'f the lever 43 is then moved towards the casing limited to the specific'construction shown and described herein as various modifications can be air will be exhausted from the tubes 33 and 36 and the frusto-conical chamber'ZS in the distributor 9, creating a partial vacuum therein. This will cause liquid to flow from the chamber 3 through the registering openings 30 and 34': and up through the tube 33 around the tube 36 and into the frusto-conical chamber 26 in the distributor 9 which is being rotated at approximately 12,000 revolutions per minute. Centrifugal action will cause the liquid to ride up the inclined wall of the chamber 26 and onto the teeth 28 from which it will be thrown onto the ring-shaped discs 23. The discs 23 will atomize and spray the liquid tangentially outward from the periphery of the discs in a ring or band which completely surrounds the distributor. A portion of this ring or band of atomized liquid will be projected out through the opening I! and the balance thereof will be intercepted by the wall of the chamber 2, surrounding the distributor, and will drain back into the chamber. 3. The centrifugal action upon the flexible disc 2'! will keep the outer free edge of the disc 27 in engagement with the film of liquid flowing up the inclined surface of the chamber 26 and thus prevent any air being drawn back into the chamber 26 and tube 33 which would impair the vacuum therein. As soon as the lever 43 is released, the passageway is closed and the port 39 is opened through the action of the spring 50. The closing of the passageway 5| will stop the flow of liquid into the chamber 3, and the opening of the port 39 will break the vacuum in the tube 33 and chamber 26 stopping the flow of liquid from the chambar 3 to the distributor.

When the device is used at an angle between 45 and 90 upwardly from a horizontal plane, the openings 3| and 35 are brought into register and then liquid will fiow through the tube 32 into the tube 33 and chamber 26 from where it will be distributed as previously described.

As' previously stated, the width of the band of spray projected out through the opening il is dependent upon the extent of this opening. As the opening IT is restricted by adjusting the gate Hi to narrow the band of projected spray, the

flow of liquid into the chamber 3 can be proportionately reduced. In order to automatically reduce the rate of fiow of liquid into the chamber 3 as the extent of the opening ll is reduced, I have provided cooperating means between the gate l9 and the control lever 43 for accomplishway 5! is proportionately reduced as the gate l9 is adjusted to reduce the extent of the opening [1. This feature per se is no part of the present invention as it is shown and claimed in my copending application Serial No. 658,249, filed March 29, 1946. i

The apparatus is particularly adapted for paint spraying. It is obvious however that the apparatus can be used equally well for atomizing and Spraying other liquid, such as a liquid disinfectant. It is to be understood that my invention is not made therein within the scope of the appended claims.

What is claimed is:

1. In a spraying apparatus, the combination of a casing having a spray opening therein, a centrifugal distributor positioned to project a band of atomized liquid out through said spray opening, a liquid reservoir in said casing below said distributor, a tube extending upwardly from said reservoir to said distributor, a suction pipe communicating with the top of said tube to create a vacuum in said tube and having a port normally venting said tube to the atmosphere, a valve to close said port, a conduit through which liquid is supplied to said reservoir, a supply valve in said conduit for controlling the flow of liquid through said conduit, and a control lever mounted on said casing having linkages connected to first close said port valve to create a suction in said tube and then to open said supply valve to allow liquid to flow through said conduit into said reservoir in response to progressive positions of said lever.

2. In a spraying apparatus, the combination of a casing having a spray opening, a centrifugal distributor in said casing having means to atoin-ize and spray liquid outwardly from the periphery thereof and positioned to project said spray through said spray opening, a liquid reservoir in said casing below said distributor, means for supplying liquid to said reservoir, a tube extending upwardly from said reservoir to said distributor, suction means communicating with the top of said tube to cause the liquid to flow upwardly in said tube to said distributor, a pair of vertically spaced ports in said tube communicating with said reservoir, valves for open ing and closing said ports, and manual control linkages connected to selectively actuate said valves.

3. A spraying apparatus, as set forth in claim 2, in which said reservoir is shaped and positioned to receive liquid by gravity from said distributor when said apparatus is in a vertical position and also when said apparatus is in a horizontal position, one of said ports being positioned to communicate with the liquid in said reservoir when said apparatus is in vertical position, the other of said ports having associated therewith means communicating with the liquid in said receiver when said apparatus is in horizontal position.

4. In a spraying apparatus, the combination,

of a casing having a spray opening, a centrifugal distributor in said casing having means to 'atomize and spray a band of atomized liquid outwardly fromthe periphery thereof and positioned to project said band of spray through said spray opening, a liquid reservoir in said casing shaped and positioned to receive liquid from said distributor by gravity when said apparatus is in either vertical or horizontal position, means for supplying liquid to said reservoir, a stationary tube having a lower closed end disposed in said reservoir and an open discharge end in said distributor, suction means connected to apply suction to the upper end of said tube for feeding the liquid upwardly therein, a pair of axially spaced aligned openings through the wall of said stationary tube positioned respectively to receive liquid from said reservoir when said apparatus is in vertical and horizontal positions respectively, a rotatable tube 

